Wurundjeri woiwurrung people have an unmatched, intrinsic knowledge of the land. They know the best ways to navigate the mountainous terrain and used barring (tracks) that crisscrossed the ranges.

Barring, however, were not the only way that the Wurundjeri woiwurrung people navigated the land. Scarred marker trees were used to indicate different routes and to signal certain areas such as biik bagurrk (Women’s Country).

Yaluk (waterways) and even the distinct shapes of tree growth were used as a means of wayfinding. Many of the early tracks used by Europeans in goranwarrabil (Dandenong Ranges) followed those previously developed by First Nations people. These tracks and trails helped the settlers find their way through the land and were later used to develop roads and highways that still operate today, such as the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail.

It is possible that Wurundjeri woiwurrung ngurungaeta Barak followed these paths as he carried the messages of his people to Parliament House in Melbourne.

woiwurrung translations by Wurundjeri woman Brooke Wandin. 

IMAGE:

Aaron Duggan

Gunaikurnai/Wurundjeri people

Knowledge from our Elders, 2022

acrylic on canvas

42 x 48 cm

This artwork was created through The Torch, a not-for-profit organisation that provides art, cultural and arts industry support to First Nations people currently in, or recently released, from Victorian prisons.

ARTWORK STORY:

This is a painting of our young men learning their culture from their Elder.